BHP Coal Pty Ltd v Building and Construction Industrial (Portable Long Service Leave) Authority [1998] ICQ 9 (1998) 157 QGIG 120
120 QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL GAZETfE 20 Fchruary, 1998
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11'11rkpioce RPhili,ms An I ')')7
s. :\6()(21 - appeal frorn J,·dsinn nf in du.s1rial ,:,)tnmi,sion
Bill' Cval f>ty l.t<I
Buildm!! ,111d ( \1ns1ru,1ton ln,1u.,trial (Port<1hk I.\Ing
.S\.'n: i..:c I .�;I''-·�) /\uth,)rity
Jt'S'l'l<'Edc JERSEY. l'Rf�'>ll>E\T ') Fchru :,ry I 'l<JR
t ·n,kr ,.66 of th,· flwlding 1111d < ·1111stnll·r1011 /n,111,tn //'nrtal>/t> /.1,11g
SPtYir,, {,1,a•·t'i :\(·t /99/, ., h1ng scrv1cl..'. kav<-� kvy i.1..: impo..-.:cd \.)11 ..h uilding
and , ·rn1'tr11<"11<>11 work··. That 1-' ,k1111<·d ,L, w,�·k 1x·rformed in the "huiltlong
and <::,•n...:tn1,.:t h'U mdu.,.cry" (:-..1.). wh1...:h m..:-(1n.5! ,L'\ ��p..:c1.,lly rt;k,-.
:,nl hc rt._
the industry nt:
..(,1) c,,rr}·ing oul th<..' c(,nstructi<,n. rt.:1...:l.lll'-tnt<:lHlll. rt.:novauon. alkration.
th.·mohtion tif n1,1int<. ·rtd1H.:r ot t,)( n:p:-ur., of or to --
(ii) r1Md\'.. r<lilways. . tirli dd-.; Pr ..�her works for th1.,.: p,,ss1tgt! of
<t11y1hlng: o r
(v11i) \Vorks f<\r t:Xtra,._1in�. rdfning. pr<)(;c...:sing or tr�.aring mall.!rials or
for J)flXtudng or (,_·xtral't1ng produ(..1-4: (rnd hr product� thm1
makriab� or
lii) wnrk inv..,lving st11H.:turi..·s. ii
x1ur�s or l�hc- r work.-: for ust• on, in
or rn \:omu:(.'.titm w 11h an;:thin� 1nt.:nii-.>n...-d in JMr.,g.rttph (.,):...
The. ,,ppdl,<111 BIii' ( \1al l'ty l.td h'"' paid 1h� l,'.vy 111 rdation <o ,1
cPntract for th� <.k.-qgn. ...:onstructtun ,tnd comn1,1s.:,,.ioning <Jf 1h, Gri.:gory
uv-1.:'rland ..:on\\:y<.\f ..;yskm. Th.H �yst'-•n1 tn,n3port.i, • (mainly, c..:oal from th�
Crinum und-.�rgrnund n1inc h) lht! (ir,:gory mini;.'·-: coal prt:p.ira1i,Jn plant
Truck.s were previously u�cd. The pttrp,i,c of the cnal prcparnuon plant is to
\.\'(13h \.'Oal to c1..�n:.1in !il�c1tic ations rdt' van1 to l.tJStom.;r r equircmcnLt;. I t i.�
po.,,it>lc 10 hrcak down the ov,·rall c,,ntract price should the levy h" payable
on <..:ompon�nt.,;: nnl)·. r,ilhc:r than u�xm chc> whole. Th� Authority ruled that
all cosL, .should hi! l.tken into accoun t i n the c.,kulation of the kvy, sa,·c only
for off-site 1.l:.-:ig.n l:o:--l.... sn-.:.urrl;.'d prmr to C()nuncnccmcnt of the. work. BHP
Cnal apJX,lkd wan Industrial \1ag1slratc (.s.�8). The \1ag1.,1ratc determined
that th\.! Authority erred t n the -.!Xl.;>nt !hat i1 h'Ok into a1.:.count the" ..:ost of th�
n\ ·�rland conveyor il�d( hnkrng rh..: scr�t::ning .-.:ii'.i ng :-:lation at Crinum to the
lirei;o ry sur�� "<>ckpik. He remiucd 1hc m,,Hcr to 1he Au1hori1y for re-
1.:akulatinn. 1301h BIii' C,lal .ultl !he Auth ority hav� n,,w ap1xalcd to me
(.<.8�)) .
BHP Ct'tdl ..:untended before me that 1he only co.�1 which .,hould ho laken
into <u..'cl'>un L is th� co.-.;1 o f a maimenan,._\,: a..:c�s:,; ro:1<l constn..1ckd alon.� the
roUl� l)f thi; (.,'t)nv�ynr. The.: Yfagi,-.;tral(,,' ink:nt.kd thHl thi� he t4tkcn-into
,u.:rnu nt. \1( Bond, who appeared for BHP Coal. made these principal
.•mhm1s:�ion:--:
I . Th� Or�gnry t:oal pr;,;part11ion plan, is ..-xis1ing w or ks and n o t 1he
suhjcct of 1h is <.:on tr,11.:t. Ahhough chat pl,1n1 proh;,hly foils within
par,1.(,1)(,·11i) or lhc ddinicinn. thc �111t,tnJctino o f the conveyOf
syskm tn fo<·d it doc.s not fall w11hin the op,:nmg wo rds of (a), or
withrn (h)(oi).
2. Whik th< screening .u,d sizing .,tation ma y argu�hly fall within
(\'111) (alth\)U_gh that w.ts not �t<.X'<..'pt<..·d). l<l ...;d\!d out the c..:ost of it"'
wos1ruction for the purpos<! ,if cakulatong the levy would i nvolve
.. ,oo rnkn.>scopic ,Hl an.dys1� of lh� pllrp<)�'-· of the- conl.nt<.1 ... a
proj�c, which ropl,1<.:,;., truck tran.<fXlnJtion of ,·,,..I to the (ircgory
C't.M1 prl.'par,,tion pl,rnl'·.
:l. Th<! ov,: rland t.:nnvcyor is n<)( "olh'-·r work.1: f,)r tht.'. pd.'\8<lg_1.• of
anything", wi1h1n (;i)(ioJ. and not co,·erct1 hy (h)(1i ·1.
➔. Only the ins1alla11011 <1nd .i.-semhly corn1x111,:nt n f tilt' contrn,:t may.
in any c.!YCl\1, amount 10 ··work", the 1,.,-vy h\.'ing. irnl,)\)�·.:d on
"huil,hng ,ind ,�>nstru.:tion �·nrk". J\ppr o.�irnatdy S 15.7 mollion of
1hc .._:ontr,,cl pn1..'C l)f S.27.9 rrnllion i .... rcf...:rahh.: co th\.: )'Upply of
pr,,prietary .:11u1pmc111 or the manuf,1cturc ol c,1u1pmcnt, ;inct that
do\!...; not tnnJlv� "work.. 111 th\.' n.:k\'i.t1H .<-\!J\."-'-'•
The Authority rd,.:<f <>nly on petr,cs, (,1\(i1\ and (viii), ,,nd (h)(ii}. �fr
<rDon ndl V<'. wti,) app,·arc<I for th,· Authority. suhnutll.'d that the screening
and si1.111g staLion fdl w11hrn (,,){v111J, .rnd th{J conv,.:y<.\f w11hin (a)(ii), hul
that rn ,rny event, the whnlc .,y,1cm 1�·11 wi1hin (.1)(\'111) or Jilernativcl;·.
(b)(11).
Th,,1 1s n11:rdy ;,1 hr i,:t '-Unlm<,ry of th\· p,,rtit;;,; '-'"·"·�ntt.d positH>HS. I h,1,\:
had th�. h..:ndll of compr�h•.;ns1vt' writk'n suhrnjs�ion:-:. 1ngt'.Chc r wilh oral
dahorauon. '.\c1.:dl..:.'-s h.> �ay I h,IY\! fi\"(..'11 t:arcful \X'll�it.krati1.)ll to all of 1hat
mati!n,ll.
I h,1vc fcdd\od the �,,ndu.<ion th,11 the whole nf th� w,>rk.s arc properly
(.;h...r:t<.:1t.·n:1.cd .-1s ··work� for pro, .:cs.'-mt or trcctling rrnucrials or for ..•
i.:xtrdcting J1f(lol.iu1.:1.s .wd hy prodltt..:t:- frl)Ol nMt<.:nd.1.-:·· . wilhrn lhc Tlk!,tning of
p,lr<l.(d)(Viii).
Thl.'.:st.:. i;.....�1.:ntial factual <.:onsili;,;rat1on� -.LfL" v..:·ry 11nport,,nc. Thi.'. convt:)'t.lf
hdl �y�·lt:m c�-trrics the tX>itl and otha mat-.:-nal� from Crinum under ground
mine to the s<.:r<.:\.'.ning �izin� �tatio11. Thal extracts �xtr,tlll.'OUS rnatcii<tl,
-.:...:r1...'L""fl� tht.:' rcrndini ng toal <tnd hr�ak....: dt,,vn ovl...'r:-:i1.'":d p1c:<..\!S. h "--'onstilute,.;.
in term, nf (niii, ··work.< r,>r extr,,uong products aml hy products f rom
matc:ri:-.ls .. (1ha1 is. the extrarh.'OU.s math.:r). t1nd p..:rfunn-.; ._, .. refining,
pnx:C's�mg or tn!aling .. fun<.:tion (.-.;�r1.•<.:ning. r�m<)vrng l.'.Atrnrn..�ou:-: ma11c:r �ind
hrcaking down (W�rs1z(.'.d pic·L·c::). Thi.: hdt lh.!ll lake� the maknal on I<.> the
t:x1:..1ing. coal preparation plan1 at th� (lr!,.!gL,q· nlini!1 whac proc<..�ssmg and
trc'.ating aJ�o <.x:i:urs.
Pttr.,graph ( .t)(viii) inv11...:s on__.·� ,1lk'ntit H\ to the ohji;;..:t of th.! works:
what ,,r" they "for.. '. \1 r Bond .,uhn\illctf th«t the c·unw}·nr .,ystcm w;c,
�s.-.�ntiaJly a tran�portall\>O sysh.:m. to <.:,1rry thi.! ,;;nal trom onl! pomt lo
<1nothcr. rather thdn hy truck. On the ,>th,•r hand ..\1r <rl>onndl re-,1X1nded
th,11 the real <.)hji.'l1 of the: �ysh:m ,..._ nol mcrdy transp<..'lrlatr(-.n. hut facilitating
the. pr,x :cssing, trc:.itmg etc. whic'h occurs at Cnnum and (.,rcgory in the
m..tnni.•r d1..-.<-<T1ht.·d ah..w�.
I hav-1.· acc...·ph.:d �vtr <rl)onndr;-.· suhrnis�i1.m 1ha1 th\! k-.�y to 1hc argurrk!nt
;, ch<1t (a)(,'iii) ,hl.,, not turn on what the work, !.!Q . hut what they ar� ill!·
20 Fehruary, l 99X QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT fNDUSTRIAL GAZETTE 121
Con�e-qu�ntly. (,·1i1) will t"mhr t,�i:: works constn1ctcd for the puq.Jo.,c of
prou�K..:.;:tng or Lrt·,tting matt.:rial.s <.!, ·..:n though the works in th..:- n1'-dv._.s nd1hcr
pron:,s .nnr 1n·,1t.
I c:oo.,11.h.:r 1ht' t ·lmdu�inn tha1 thi...:.;: wholt: <.:�.-.;km was ..f<,r'' th\.'. trt:,lling
.:·t�. l)f m,,c...·ri,d( tu h� factu,tlly in..:�t:apahle. To -.;ay tha1 it wa,\ rn:.!rd;- ;,
iransp.,fl,\Uon ·'}�km. i�nnring the widt:r purpo:-\.'. would invo!vt..• an
imrxrnus�ihly hhnkcr�d approat:h. I agri;� ·.-.•ith the view cxpr�$.-.·i:d m
Bui/drr.1i · l..1n'11s11;,�· /loord \' /'rut� (otlsfru("[iont· Pty Ltd ( J 1}79) I
\SWl.R 607. "1, 1h:11 kgist1tio11 with thi.s ohj,•c1 sh,iuld he �on,1ru�d
ii�ni�ni'>'. h,·ndkially. not oum,wly. The appn�1,h urg.:d hy :'-1r f3ond woultl
ri.:ad�h1.: '.v�,rd ..for" ,·cry n,1,rn)w Jy . ...:ontining 1h0 pUf"f'<\:-'t' of th,: �yskm t, \ an
inu1ra,1l:11<' . d1r�c1, limit�d purpo.s�. Why sh,>uld nn c nm lcx>k t(l the broader
pit·iuri:. 1t h •n1ilyrni wh�u mig.h1 he t:..·rmi:d an "ov l!rall'' roJ"•'! fn thi.� C..t-"''-', th�
(,rdinary 1,ih,.,·cn·._•r \\'PUhl I b.._:lh:vc l'.i.'n...jda lha1 to lk tht: cru� f>tJ11)(Js.: of th..:
.-.:ysk'm. The f'Lun und"irlying puq)(>Sc ot the :-y.skm '·"· in �hor1. 10 �H.:hk\'<!
eh\· pnx:<-'s,1 n�! ..,od trcati11,g nf <.:nal 1 hy hringin� 1h"� cn-,1 tn lh� pl.Kt:� wh�rc
1IHlt wiU d1rGOI}' tK.'.Cllr. Th..: wht.\k w or k8 do. tht.· r..:f<)r�. in my ,·it:,-.· foll
within (;,l(v111).
ft 1s thl�ft'h�r..: u11nt.:n.•.-.;�.ary lor me to tk,tl \\lllh lhe ..:uhmi...sion -...:on-...:�rniog
(a)(1i) ur (hHti). f �hould ho\\\;s..:r rule 1..)n \1r Bond's �uhn\i"·"ion rd'i..:rr<..:d to
in para . .J ahovc.
A:• I Oll:iuion�t.l al the' outs<.'l. the lcYy i� impo.'-<..:<.t nn .. hu1hhng .md
con.'-ln1c11ort work" (�.66), Th..: cost t,f1ha1 Wt>rk I."- lh� ··contra...:t prk...! for th('
\VOrk" (_.;,71) tunk.-.;:,.• thl.. i\uthori1y d<:x!.� not con�i<h:r 1hc1t lo h<.· an :u.:cur,Hi;
i;stimat�). In chi.� 1...•a_,.:1.."", on.; i.-.; <.:OOC\!rn...:d \Vith < 1 527.«) rn1llinn �o ntn,ct. .v1r
Bond crnphasi/J.:d hl)W�v�.r lh ,ll It 1s po:.;:-:ihk 10 di.••si.!<.:1 ouc lht: cos·1� 1..)f
proprict.tf) 1.."q1.1ipn1t..:nt and rnanutactllr<.;d t:t(Uipm.!nt to h...: ineorporah.'d inw
1hc: work. [k,:,;au",.:, lh: �uhmitkd. lhost.' p<1.rt:-: •.)I lht ovcr,tll <.:on1ract whi;..:h
cn, ·1.,;a!_!1.·d lh'-" suppiv pf ."-U<.:h ,:quipn1i..mt arc.:. not for the p.;r1'orrnantt..' o f
"work" ( rn tha ,io,·unnary .se nse ol "cXertion. labou r. lull'·) a t the .<ite th<:y
sh<'llld he (..'xdutkd wht<n the i\uthuruy c.1h:ul.,t..:� thl;;'. kvy.
Tht.; i\uthHril)'. f or its pan. .i...:i..:cpt� tlMt th-: J)l.;f'form<tn<.t· of., <..:nntr,;1;._:t fo r
th-.! �upply \ll mdh.: ri<1I nnty. whL·r1..· th\: m.:t1...-r1<il i-.. to h: U:"-..:d m lhi..· (:rcction of
,1 ..�tn.J..1ur,·. ,vould UPI h,;.• ..buildm.g: ,tnd ..:-on.,tructinn work... hut 1nak1...·s 1hc
prnnl th<1t HH'- conlf�k'.t 1s for 1hc ..:urPly pf labour .i1H.i HMkri.tJ..,·. \Vhik lhL·
prPvi:--ion., · rd:,tiu� to 1hc supply of nMtcrial:- ......nufd he i.--1..11ak<.1. th-.: (.'nn1r,i<.'l
should he ch,t1tKlai1...:d more glohdtl)·. <1nd oni..:1.: i1 ,:-: :-c;.:n ;.1.,· a contr.11..1 ft.,r
tht.' ctrry:n g out i..Jt \\'(1rk� with111 pa ra.(.t)(viitJ. lh( · ll\\;1c1U .. t ·ontr,Kt pnc� for
th� \\Wk" 111 1, ·rms ,.,f s .7.l shoulcl h� ,1dop1 cd.
In 1ny <.'f)Hl1on , th-.>r1.' 1s nu ...:an<:tilm fpr 1.'.Xdudin� 1h,: c.;o-..:t...: tlf lh1.:
p..·rf.;_wrn,1n1.\· �)I tho.."t: P<tn..-: i..)f th..: �<ln!r,,cl to h"· (.."itrrkd t•llt 011•....:itt·. <L'" in the
manufi-1<.:lur� t>r �urply nf ;,;quipn11.:nl, Rt•adin g the ddinillon...; nt ..hU1lding
and c..·ot\.'-!ru'":li..,il \t.orlC tU1d "huihlrn�. ,:.1.nd ..,(lm-.1n1t.·uon mdu,,ry" wnh �-7 .\
;,:.;.�l'.itlily H.\ lt�krt.'n-..·...- tu .. lh{.'. <:1>ntr.tet pri(._'t! for th-.· W<.}fk.., I <·an s1.·:: ll<.>
J t1.\tiftc<1t1on fur linutin� tht: ..\,·,irk·· l\> h;.: c;,kl'."n into ,u.:cuum hy rdi:rcn<.:t..: to
th.: plan: wli\•fc u 1,· tP h�· t:<UTic·t.l oul.
It l,)Uow" lhal I d1lfl! r from tlk· Jndu-.;1rial \1.t!!1,·lr,1k t(, thi: 1.·Xh:nt th,tt J
l'<.)n�itkr th�,t th•�· .uuoum upon whi�h 1h.: k , ·y i'- It\ ht' ..:'1.ku lakti nm�t
1ndUtk th,· c,�s1 nf <hi.: O\\!rl.,nd t.·t,nv._•yor, which m1..·,1n:,;- that th,: /\ulht,rl1)'°.
,,pprt>,1 \.h ,k-t.01k,I 111 n, kllcr h> B 111' ( ·(> .tl ol 21 (lch>lh-r I')96 ha, hccn
vind1c«1<·,I. I ,,nkr ch,,t the· apfJ<•,d ol 1hc l\uchont y (( '72 of I •)97) h,, ,dlnw �tl
«nd ch,n the ·'Pl�-•,,I •.>I Olli' Co,11 /('70 ol I<J97, he rdUs<=d. 'I he m<11ter ,.,
f<.'rnillcd to lh� /\uthority $0 that it might dt.'krnUn� th� levy in a..:o,rdanc1.·
w11h thi., 1udg1111.· nt.
I Win I\\ lht: <1u;.;:,.:(it)n of C0,\1.,'. ·n1.: /\utlH)rJly h<tS sought CL).'\IS Ill 11!-:
nolit:t· 1.)f app<.:,1J. I was nol pr�s..:nti::d with 1)f1ti or v.-r11kn suhmi.'Sh)JlS in
rcbt1on ,o the mt1tk:r of t.:o:..:t.". It thle:->' hnw-cv�r lflc:\'Jt�thly iollow frorn my
resoluc ,"n of 1h-, app,;il., that I ,h,>t1ld order tiu,c 01 ii' Coa l p;,y the
,\uthorit}'s ,..,,1., of bvth ,lpJ><.'Jis tn t,� tax�d ,,n cha appropnak' Supreme
Court .,c,d..:·. Th-: Authoritv ab:o .c.:uu�h1 tht: ..,'<l":i� of rh..: h.:ar11h! before the
>1.1!;!.t'ir,HL'. f n !h•..' �1hsen..:c �>f �1.1hnn:--.-:...1ons on that point. t prcft..·r �ol 10 nMk;!
..i.n Ntkr �tl thi-. Sl,�1!1.!. noline lhl.'.: natUl'I.' of thi.· onk r nl<Hk hv lh(.." .\1.11?.i.-.:tr:,h;. I
will ht'lw-.•v.:r int,;1a1c tha� uok�.\ lh.:::r1.: is son11.· r..•k·,·an� cnos1<.k;a1 iu11 of
\, ,:hkh I ,1m pr;..•:•cnlly un<1w;ut.!. ll would .,1.�..:n1 10 j.,,lll,w 1h,,1 BHP (\,al
:--houhi :,!,o p.,y thi: /\ulhority's C\)�1� of th111 h-..-..ir mg. Thi., in11matii)n m< t.Y
f<H..·1IH.tlc ,1 fl.!�nlutwn 1·l any issue ...,fh>UI thns� <.),).'l.'. liuling wllit.:h 1hc.: m.tH\.'.1
w,11 h:n·.: to ht· r�h�kd f<.,r .,1. t.k1�rm1m,t1t,n ol' tha1 �1s1x:..:1.
D:.kd 1h,, n1111h d,1y of February. I •l •>&.
I ' . de Jl: ,RSJ;Y. f'r�sident.
181254-12
\1r J. Bond (on.<trucicd by Alkn Alle n and He m.sky} for th<.: Appellant.
:Vlr B. O'Don nell QC, with him ;V!r T . Sulliv an (instruct"'' by '.\-kCullough
and Rohcn.<on) for the k,·.<pond�nl.
Of>,:r.itive l>at�: 'siA
Ju,1gmcnt - BIIP Cnal Pty I.id 1\\1) Builthng and Cons1111c:t1on Industrial
(P<)ft ahlL'. I .nng St:rvi<.:c- L:a\ ·._:) /\ulht\nty
R�k:c<c tl: 9 h,hruary I')98
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Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/ICQ/1998/009